2010-08-14, 08:25 PM
(This post was last modified: 2012-08-15, 12:47 AM by johnsonx42.)
The WIKI links to this old post; current version is here: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...arted-info
**** DEPRECATED - RETAINED FOR REFERENCE ONLY ****
This is a Semi-Official thread to provide getting started help, current patches, and other relevant info for the current release of NPVR. It is Semi-Official in that I am not sub, but sub said it was cool for me to do this. Hopefully it will be helpful.
Post #1: Links to current NPVR Installer, pre-requisites, basic geting started tips.
Post #2: Important Patches for the current NPVR release, other current release info
Post #3: Utilities, Plugins, Skins, other tips and useful info, applicable to any NPVR release
Post #4: me yelling at you! (also sort of a placeholder if I need a fourth post for more stuff later on)
The current NPVR Installer is always here: http://www.gbpvr.com/NPVRSetup.exe
- v2.0.3 released March 1st(NZ time). See release notes: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...1st-March)
Needed Microsoft updates for ALL versions of Windows:
Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime Library: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/detai...laylang=en
Microsoft DirectX Runtime: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/detai...laylang=en (please do not assume that because you have DirectX10 or DirectX11 that you don't need a DirectX9 update - you do! This is different than just DirectX 9.0c. Just install it. REALLY. If your DirectX has already been updated by some means, then the installer will say so and won't do anything)
Microsoft .NET 2.0 runtime: almost everyone already has it by now, unless you're starting with a fresh install of windows; get it from Windows Update
What is NPVR aka NextPVR?
NPVR is a completely new PVR application. With it you can watch and record TV programs from a variety of sources, play music and watch movies, and extend the functionality with various plugins. It can be thought of as the next generation of GB-PVR, but does not contain any GB-PVR code. GB-PVR skins and plugins are NOT compatible with NPVR. The initial release version number of NPVR was 1.5.19 (all versions 1.4.7 and prior are the older GB-PVR program). Much can be learned by reading sub's release notes in all of the 1.5.x release threads here: http://forums.gbpvr.com//forumdisplay.ph...order=desc (particularly the 1.5.19 notes are relevant if you are familiar with GB-PVR)
What about GB-PVR?
GB-PVR is no longer being developed. 1.4.7 was the final release, there will be no further changes, patches or bug fixes. Most plugin developers have also ended developement of their GB-PVR plugins. Support is still provided in the GB-PVR Support (Legacy) forum.
NPVR Documentation Wiki
The documentation Wiki page for NPVR is available here: http://www.gbpvr.com/nwiki. All users are encouraged to contribute to the Wiki, post in the following thread for author access: http://forums.gbpvr.com//showthread.php?47776
Getting Started & Accessing Settings:
The first time you run NextPVR.exe, it *should* load the Settings screen. If it doesn't, or when you need to get into it again, simply Right-Click anywhere in the NextPVR window; then you can select "Settings" from the menu.
Analog Capture Devices:
For ALL analog capture devices, you will need some of the Hauppauge SoftPVR components. If your Analog capture source does not show up in Devices, then the needed components are missing. If you first install WinTV7 (not 6, 7!) you will have the needed components installed. You can download WinTV7 from Hauppauge if you have an earlier WinTV CD available AND have a supported Hauppauge device installed: http://hauppauge.lightpath.net/software/...d_2.2d.exe. See the wiki for additional installation options: http://www.nextpvr.com/nwiki/pmwiki.php?...ugeSoftPVR
Some Analog devices will also need an appropriate entry added to the AnalogDevices.xml file; if your analog device won't show up after successfully installing the SoftPVR components, run FilterCheck (see post 3), and post a support request thread with your FilterCheck.log attached as a .zip file. Here's a post from Sub that reminds me how to construct an AnalogDevices.xml entry, as I get tired of looking for it every time I want to make one for someone: http://forums.gbpvr.com//showthread.php?...post386495
North America Digital Cable (QAM) Support
Many ATSC/QAM digital tuner drivers do not properly identify QAM support for the device, and thus the device will appear only in the ATSC form; you will not be able to tune digital cable with this device entry. If the QAM entry for your device does not show up, view the devices screen then post a new support thread with your NPVR.LOG attached, along with a "please sir". sub can use data in the log to add QAM support for your device via a patch.
NPVR Directories
NPVR has a program directory and a data directory. By default:
[PROGRAM] = "C:\Program Files\NPVR" (32-bit versions of Windows)
[PROGRAM] = "C:\Program Files(x86)\NPVR" (64-bit versions of Windows)
[DATA] = "C:\Users\Public\NPVR" on Windows 6 variants (Vista, 7, 2008)
[DATA] = "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\NPVR" on Windows 5.x variants (XP, 2003).
NPVR LOGS
NPVR logs pretty much everything it does in several log files. You should zip and attach your logs to any support post. The default log location is in the logs directory under the npvr data directory:
Windows Vista & Windows 7: C:\users\public\npvr\logs
Windows XP: C:\documents and settings\all users\application data\npvr\logs
--(my personal pet peeve: posted logs must be in .zip format or I probably won't look at them. someone else probably will, but not me... I may even gripe about it, yet still not look at the logs, because I'm just THAT WAY about it)--
EPG (Electronic Program Guide)
NPVR will read any available EPG data you receive from your broadcasters (the DVB-T/ATSC Broadcast EPG option). However this information is sometimes very limited and not really of much use for more than the most basic TV watching functions (particularly North American digital cable and broadcast). It is recommended instead that you provide an XMLTV file with your desired EPG data. You will need an XMLTV grabber to download your EPG data into a file, and then point NPVR to that file. NPVR can also link directly to an XMLTV file on a web server. Once you setup your XMLTV grabber, you can put the commands to run the grabber in to the updateepg.bat file in the npvr\scripts directory. NPVR runs this file first before updating the EPG each time. Here are a few XMLTV grabbers:
XMLTV: http://sourceforge.net/projects/xmltv/
XMLTVGUI: http://www.birtles.org.uk/xmltv/ - of particular interest to UK users
MC2XML: http://mc2xml.dyndns.org - can grab free Windows Media Center EPG data
DVBGuide: http://forums.gbpvr.com//showthread.php?...post387262 - load DVB broadcast EPG into an XMLTV file
In addition, for US and Canadian users, NPVR now has built-in support for the Schedules Direct EPG service. Create an account at http://www.schedulesdirect.org; quality, legal EPG data is only $20.00 per year.
I gave some quick instructions on the whole XMLTV setup and channel mapping process in this post here: http://forums.gbpvr.com//showthread.php?...post387096. That should give you the broad strokes to setting up the EPG with digital channels.
Video and Audio Decoders
You must provide and select decoders for the video and audio streams that you will be playing. Analog video in any country requires only an MPEG-2 Video decoder and an MPEG-1 Layer 2 Audio decoder. The decoders provided with Windows XP/Vista/7 are usually sufficient for this. Digital video in the USA requires an HD-Capable MPEG-2 Video decoder and an AC3 Audio decoder. The Microsoft DTV-DVD Video decoder works well for many users, however the Microsoft DTV-DVD Audio Decoder will not work for AC3 Audio. Use AC3Filter (http://ac3filter.net) instead. In other countries H.264 Video and various other forms of Audio are in use; you should familiarize yourself with the format(s) used in your country.
Moving from GB-PVR
GB-PVR and NPVR can run at the same time, but be careful not to have both programs attempt to use the same tuner(s) at the same time.
NPVR can import your existing Ready recordings; click Import on the Recording screen in Settings, and point to GB-PVR's recording-dump.xml.
There is a utility for importing season recordings, see the Utilities section in post #3.
NEWA - NPVR Enhanced Web Access
Thanks to UncleJohnsBand, NPVR sports a spiffy web interface. Just point your web browser to [url]http://machine_name_or_ip_address:8866[/url], and enjoy (or http://localhost:8866 if you're on the same box). You can set an admin password for the configuration functions on the 'MVP & Web' screen in Settings.
**** DEPRECATED - RETAINED FOR REFERENCE ONLY ****
This is a Semi-Official thread to provide getting started help, current patches, and other relevant info for the current release of NPVR. It is Semi-Official in that I am not sub, but sub said it was cool for me to do this. Hopefully it will be helpful.
Post #1: Links to current NPVR Installer, pre-requisites, basic geting started tips.
Post #2: Important Patches for the current NPVR release, other current release info
Post #3: Utilities, Plugins, Skins, other tips and useful info, applicable to any NPVR release
Post #4: me yelling at you! (also sort of a placeholder if I need a fourth post for more stuff later on)
The current NPVR Installer is always here: http://www.gbpvr.com/NPVRSetup.exe
- v2.0.3 released March 1st(NZ time). See release notes: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...1st-March)
Needed Microsoft updates for ALL versions of Windows:
Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime Library: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/detai...laylang=en
Microsoft DirectX Runtime: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/detai...laylang=en (please do not assume that because you have DirectX10 or DirectX11 that you don't need a DirectX9 update - you do! This is different than just DirectX 9.0c. Just install it. REALLY. If your DirectX has already been updated by some means, then the installer will say so and won't do anything)
Microsoft .NET 2.0 runtime: almost everyone already has it by now, unless you're starting with a fresh install of windows; get it from Windows Update
What is NPVR aka NextPVR?
NPVR is a completely new PVR application. With it you can watch and record TV programs from a variety of sources, play music and watch movies, and extend the functionality with various plugins. It can be thought of as the next generation of GB-PVR, but does not contain any GB-PVR code. GB-PVR skins and plugins are NOT compatible with NPVR. The initial release version number of NPVR was 1.5.19 (all versions 1.4.7 and prior are the older GB-PVR program). Much can be learned by reading sub's release notes in all of the 1.5.x release threads here: http://forums.gbpvr.com//forumdisplay.ph...order=desc (particularly the 1.5.19 notes are relevant if you are familiar with GB-PVR)
What about GB-PVR?
GB-PVR is no longer being developed. 1.4.7 was the final release, there will be no further changes, patches or bug fixes. Most plugin developers have also ended developement of their GB-PVR plugins. Support is still provided in the GB-PVR Support (Legacy) forum.
NPVR Documentation Wiki
The documentation Wiki page for NPVR is available here: http://www.gbpvr.com/nwiki. All users are encouraged to contribute to the Wiki, post in the following thread for author access: http://forums.gbpvr.com//showthread.php?47776
Getting Started & Accessing Settings:
The first time you run NextPVR.exe, it *should* load the Settings screen. If it doesn't, or when you need to get into it again, simply Right-Click anywhere in the NextPVR window; then you can select "Settings" from the menu.
Analog Capture Devices:
For ALL analog capture devices, you will need some of the Hauppauge SoftPVR components. If your Analog capture source does not show up in Devices, then the needed components are missing. If you first install WinTV7 (not 6, 7!) you will have the needed components installed. You can download WinTV7 from Hauppauge if you have an earlier WinTV CD available AND have a supported Hauppauge device installed: http://hauppauge.lightpath.net/software/...d_2.2d.exe. See the wiki for additional installation options: http://www.nextpvr.com/nwiki/pmwiki.php?...ugeSoftPVR
Some Analog devices will also need an appropriate entry added to the AnalogDevices.xml file; if your analog device won't show up after successfully installing the SoftPVR components, run FilterCheck (see post 3), and post a support request thread with your FilterCheck.log attached as a .zip file. Here's a post from Sub that reminds me how to construct an AnalogDevices.xml entry, as I get tired of looking for it every time I want to make one for someone: http://forums.gbpvr.com//showthread.php?...post386495
North America Digital Cable (QAM) Support
Many ATSC/QAM digital tuner drivers do not properly identify QAM support for the device, and thus the device will appear only in the ATSC form; you will not be able to tune digital cable with this device entry. If the QAM entry for your device does not show up, view the devices screen then post a new support thread with your NPVR.LOG attached, along with a "please sir". sub can use data in the log to add QAM support for your device via a patch.
NPVR Directories
NPVR has a program directory and a data directory. By default:
[PROGRAM] = "C:\Program Files\NPVR" (32-bit versions of Windows)
[PROGRAM] = "C:\Program Files(x86)\NPVR" (64-bit versions of Windows)
[DATA] = "C:\Users\Public\NPVR" on Windows 6 variants (Vista, 7, 2008)
[DATA] = "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\NPVR" on Windows 5.x variants (XP, 2003).
NPVR LOGS
NPVR logs pretty much everything it does in several log files. You should zip and attach your logs to any support post. The default log location is in the logs directory under the npvr data directory:
Windows Vista & Windows 7: C:\users\public\npvr\logs
Windows XP: C:\documents and settings\all users\application data\npvr\logs
--(my personal pet peeve: posted logs must be in .zip format or I probably won't look at them. someone else probably will, but not me... I may even gripe about it, yet still not look at the logs, because I'm just THAT WAY about it)--
EPG (Electronic Program Guide)
NPVR will read any available EPG data you receive from your broadcasters (the DVB-T/ATSC Broadcast EPG option). However this information is sometimes very limited and not really of much use for more than the most basic TV watching functions (particularly North American digital cable and broadcast). It is recommended instead that you provide an XMLTV file with your desired EPG data. You will need an XMLTV grabber to download your EPG data into a file, and then point NPVR to that file. NPVR can also link directly to an XMLTV file on a web server. Once you setup your XMLTV grabber, you can put the commands to run the grabber in to the updateepg.bat file in the npvr\scripts directory. NPVR runs this file first before updating the EPG each time. Here are a few XMLTV grabbers:
XMLTV: http://sourceforge.net/projects/xmltv/
XMLTVGUI: http://www.birtles.org.uk/xmltv/ - of particular interest to UK users
MC2XML: http://mc2xml.dyndns.org - can grab free Windows Media Center EPG data
DVBGuide: http://forums.gbpvr.com//showthread.php?...post387262 - load DVB broadcast EPG into an XMLTV file
In addition, for US and Canadian users, NPVR now has built-in support for the Schedules Direct EPG service. Create an account at http://www.schedulesdirect.org; quality, legal EPG data is only $20.00 per year.
I gave some quick instructions on the whole XMLTV setup and channel mapping process in this post here: http://forums.gbpvr.com//showthread.php?...post387096. That should give you the broad strokes to setting up the EPG with digital channels.
Video and Audio Decoders
You must provide and select decoders for the video and audio streams that you will be playing. Analog video in any country requires only an MPEG-2 Video decoder and an MPEG-1 Layer 2 Audio decoder. The decoders provided with Windows XP/Vista/7 are usually sufficient for this. Digital video in the USA requires an HD-Capable MPEG-2 Video decoder and an AC3 Audio decoder. The Microsoft DTV-DVD Video decoder works well for many users, however the Microsoft DTV-DVD Audio Decoder will not work for AC3 Audio. Use AC3Filter (http://ac3filter.net) instead. In other countries H.264 Video and various other forms of Audio are in use; you should familiarize yourself with the format(s) used in your country.
Moving from GB-PVR
GB-PVR and NPVR can run at the same time, but be careful not to have both programs attempt to use the same tuner(s) at the same time.
NPVR can import your existing Ready recordings; click Import on the Recording screen in Settings, and point to GB-PVR's recording-dump.xml.
There is a utility for importing season recordings, see the Utilities section in post #3.
NEWA - NPVR Enhanced Web Access
Thanks to UncleJohnsBand, NPVR sports a spiffy web interface. Just point your web browser to [url]http://machine_name_or_ip_address:8866[/url], and enjoy (or http://localhost:8866 if you're on the same box). You can set an admin password for the configuration functions on the 'MVP & Web' screen in Settings.
